The Voter Education Project (VEP) began in 1962 as part of the Southern Regional Council. Initially VEP granted funds to civil rights organizations to support voter education, voter registration drives, and voting-related research. In 1964, Vernon Jordan, the second executive director of the VEP, expanded the programs goals to include citizenship training, voter education, and leadership training in the southern United States, while continuing to provide funds to independent voter and civil rights groups, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the League of Women Voters. The VEP’s work with the League of Women Voters is highlighted in the materials below. In 1971, VEP under the leadership of John Lewis, became an independent organization and functioned as a research center and became known as an authoritative source for statistics on southern elections and voter registration in general. Lewis also forged the VEP into an activist organization, launching Voter Mobilization Tours with Georgia state legislator and civil rights advocate Julian Bond. At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.
Sep 4, 2020

Voter Education Project Organizational Records

The Voter Education Project (VEP) began in 1962 as part of the Southern Regional Council. Initially VEP granted funds to civil rights organizations to support voter education, voter registration drives, and voting-related research. In 1964, Vernon Jordan, the second executive director of the VEP, expanded the programs goals to include citizenship training, voter education, and leadership training in the southern United States, while continuing to provide funds to independent voter and civil rights groups, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the League of Women Voters. The VEP’s work with the League of Women Voters is highlighted in the materials below. In 1971, VEP under the leadership of John Lewis, became an independent organization and functioned as a research center and became known as an authoritative source for statistics on southern elections and voter registration in general. Lewis also forged the VEP into an activist organization, launching Voter Mobilization Tours with Georgia state legislator and civil rights advocate Julian Bond.

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.
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  • Subjects = African American leadership
Brochure from National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) New York chapter highlighting Black people who died for the right vote. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ballots, Bullet, and Blood: How Blacks Have Died for the Right to Vote", circa 1970
Date Created
1968/1972
Description
Brochure from National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) New York chapter highlighting Black people who died for the right vote. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers, African American leadership, Political posters, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the Neighborhood Voters League accusations that the City of College Park was "dragging its feet" in the filing of a new ward redistricting plan to the Justice Department. The city was ordered to redraw voting wards and hold new city elections as soon as possible in 1977 by a federal court ruling in December. The Neighborhood Voters League was concerned that the city was not submitting the plan in time for an election to be held in 1977. They were also concerned that the plan would not adequately represent apartment residents. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Accuse College Park of Delaying Ward Plan Filing", April 28, 1977
Date Created
1977-04-28
Description
Newspaper article regarding the Neighborhood Voters League accusations that the City of College Park was "dragging its feet" in the filing of a new ward redistricting plan to the Justice Department. The city was ordered to redraw voting wards and hold new city elections as soon as possible in 1977 by a federal court ruling in December. The Neighborhood Voters League was concerned that the city was not submitting the plan in time for an election to be held in 1977. They were also concerned that the plan would not adequately represent apartment residents. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Filmstrip transcript encouraging Black people to participate in their local municipal governments. The document describes the role of municipal governments in daily life and emphasizes the need for Black people to establish leadership within their communities. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Build Our Own Power" Filmstrip, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Filmstrip transcript encouraging Black people to participate in their local municipal governments. The document describes the role of municipal governments in daily life and emphasizes the need for Black people to establish leadership within their communities. 5 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article dicussing the Atlanta city government's employment of Black workers at City Hall. The article claimed that while some preliminary positive changes were created in the increased hiring of Black workers, any additional change was unlikely at the department head level. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"City Employs Many Negroes," March 17, 1969
Date Created
1969-03-17
Description
Newspaper article dicussing the Atlanta city government's employment of Black workers at City Hall. The article claimed that while some preliminary positive changes were created in the increased hiring of Black workers, any additional change was unlikely at the department head level. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, Labor
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the election of Edward L. Simon to Clark College's Board of Trustees as its chairman. Simon was the general auditor of Atlanta Life Insurance Company and was a Clark College alumnus. Four new members were also appointed to the board: Vernon Jordan, J. C. Daugherty, Major Jones, and Charles Kindelberger. Jordan was the director of Voter Education for the Southern Regional Council, Daugherty was a member of the Georgia legislature, Jones was the president of Gammon Theological Seminary, and Kindelberger was a professor of economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Clark Board Elects Simon As Chairman", November 26, 1968
Date Created
1968-11-26
Description
Newspaper article discussing the election of Edward L. Simon to Clark College's Board of Trustees as its chairman. Simon was the general auditor of Atlanta Life Insurance Company and was a Clark College alumnus. Four new members were also appointed to the board: Vernon Jordan, J. C. Daugherty, Major Jones, and Charles Kindelberger. Jordan was the director of Voter Education for the Southern Regional Council, Daugherty was a member of the Georgia legislature, Jones was the president of Gammon Theological Seminary, and Kindelberger was a professor of economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Education, African Americans--Civil rights, African American universities and colleges, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Proposal from City Attorney George E. Glaze addressed to Donald P. Edwards containing College Park's submission for reconsideration in regard to the Justice Department's complaints of unfair annexations. The report contained the area's population, by race, of the prior districts, estimates of the area population, by race, of the annexed areas, population projections by 1980, by race of the proposed districts, information about racial bloc voting in the city, information about the public hearings and meetings that were held during the preparation of the proposed redistricting plan, and corrections and notations with respect to the city's submission and the Department of Justice's letter. 8 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
College Park Annexation Reconsideration Proposal, March 20, 1978
Date Created
1978-03-20
Description
Proposal from City Attorney George E. Glaze addressed to Donald P. Edwards containing College Park's submission for reconsideration in regard to the Justice Department's complaints of unfair annexations. The report contained the area's population, by race, of the prior districts, estimates of the area population, by race, of the annexed areas, population projections by 1980, by race of the proposed districts, information about racial bloc voting in the city, information about the public hearings and meetings that were held during the preparation of the proposed redistricting plan, and corrections and notations with respect to the city's submission and the Department of Justice's letter. 8 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing the College Park City Council's consideration of new ward boundaries to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The council considered about 10 proposals, and opted to select a plan with at least one majority black ward. The council also considered reviewing a third proposal by a group of black citizens calling for two majority black wards. The council's decision was subject to Justice Department approval before any plan could be implemented. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"College Park Must Redraw Ward Lines", February 13, 1977
Date Created
1977-02-13
Description
Newspaper article describing the College Park City Council's consideration of new ward boundaries to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The council considered about 10 proposals, and opted to select a plan with at least one majority black ward. The council also considered reviewing a third proposal by a group of black citizens calling for two majority black wards. The council's decision was subject to Justice Department approval before any plan could be implemented. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report from McMillan C. Baggett, then-Senior Staff Consultant of Public Research and Management, addressed to City Attorney George A. Glaze containing detailed statistics regarding College Park's neighborhood analysis and ward breakdown. According to the author, the provided housing data was accurate, while population estimates were based on vacancy rates and occupancy rates. Minority population estimates were difficult to obtain, and the figures presented were only approximations. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
College Park Neighborhood Analysis Report, May 27, 1976
Date Created
1978-05-27
Description
Report from McMillan C. Baggett, then-Senior Staff Consultant of Public Research and Management, addressed to City Attorney George A. Glaze containing detailed statistics regarding College Park's neighborhood analysis and ward breakdown. According to the author, the provided housing data was accurate, while population estimates were based on vacancy rates and occupancy rates. Minority population estimates were difficult to obtain, and the figures presented were only approximations. 5 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing a dispute in the city of College Park over redistricting. The black community demanded that two majority-black wards be created, but the city argued that this would require the creation of odd-shaped wards that would disrupt the delivery of city services. The Justice Department was given the responsibility of adjudicating over the city's proposal. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"College Park Tries To Cut 6 Even Slices", April 4, 1978
Date Created
1978-04-04
Description
Newspaper article describing a dispute in the city of College Park over redistricting. The black community demanded that two majority-black wards be created, but the city argued that this would require the creation of odd-shaped wards that would disrupt the delivery of city services. The Justice Department was given the responsibility of adjudicating over the city's proposal. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the College Park City Council's 4-3 vote to allow a peaceful demonstration by the Neighborhood Voters League to be held in the city on March 25. The parade was designed to inform Bblack citizens about the redistricting suit brought by the Voters League. The redistricting was under reconsideration by the Justice Department. Mayor Ralph Presley broke the tie vote in favor of the parade. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"College Park Voters To Allow Black Parade On Redistrcting Suit", March 16, 1976
Date Created
1976-03-16
Description
Newspaper article discussing the College Park City Council's 4-3 vote to allow a peaceful demonstration by the Neighborhood Voters League to be held in the city on March 25. The parade was designed to inform Bblack citizens about the redistricting suit brought by the Voters League. The redistricting was under reconsideration by the Justice Department. Mayor Ralph Presley broke the tie vote in favor of the parade. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Proposal from V. R. Stuebing, Jr, Executive Vice President of Public Research and Management, Inc, addressed to City Attorney George E. Glaze containing research analysis regarding "Estimates of Current Population, By Race, of the Prior Districts", "Estimates of the Present Population, By Race, of the Annexed Areas to Which Objection Has Been Interposed", and "Projections of 1980 Population, By Race, of the Proposed Districts" in reference to a College Park's redistricting suit. 7 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
College Park Ward Redistricting Report, February 9, 1978
Date Created
1978-02-09
Description
Proposal from V. R. Stuebing, Jr, Executive Vice President of Public Research and Management, Inc, addressed to City Attorney George E. Glaze containing research analysis regarding "Estimates of Current Population, By Race, of the Prior Districts", "Estimates of the Present Population, By Race, of the Annexed Areas to Which Objection Has Been Interposed", and "Projections of 1980 Population, By Race, of the Proposed Districts" in reference to a College Park's redistricting suit. 7 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Warren J. Wicker, then-Assistant Director of the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to John R. Lewis, then Director of the Voter Education Project, regarding the formation of the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Charter Commission. In 1969, the North Carolina General Assembly created the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Charter Commission to develop a charter for consolidated government in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. The Commission was tasked with including provisions in the charter to assure fair representation on all appointive boards and commissions. The director of the Commission's research staff was asked to prepare a memorandum outlining methods by which this goal could be accomplished. The research revealed that very little had been done in this area, and the following memo was sent to VEP with the request for any additional information about approaches that may have been missed and was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Warren J. Wicker to VEP Regarding the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Charter Commision, May 8, 1970
Date Created
1970-05-08
Description
Correspondence from Warren J. Wicker, then-Assistant Director of the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to John R. Lewis, then Director of the Voter Education Project, regarding the formation of the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Charter Commission. In 1969, the North Carolina General Assembly created the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Charter Commission to develop a charter for consolidated government in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. The Commission was tasked with including provisions in the charter to assure fair representation on all appointive boards and commissions. The director of the Commission's research staff was asked to prepare a memorandum outlining methods by which this goal could be accomplished. The research revealed that very little had been done in this area, and the following memo was sent to VEP with the request for any additional information about approaches that may have been missed and was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the Louisiana Advancement Association's criticism of the "disproportionate" number of African Americans in the Louisiana delegation to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The LAA demanded that the delegation be increased to 30 members, which would give African Americans 12 votes. The proposed delegation only had 10 African American members, which was the equivalent of three and a half votes. The LAA was concerned that the current delegation did not reflect the true demographics of Louisiana, where African Americans make up one-third of the population. The group was also concerned that the lack of African American representation in the delegation could hurt the Democratic Party in the upcoming election. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Lack of Negro Delegates Hit", August 4, 1968
Date Created
1968-08-04
Description
Newspaper article regarding the Louisiana Advancement Association's criticism of the "disproportionate" number of African Americans in the Louisiana delegation to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The LAA demanded that the delegation be increased to 30 members, which would give African Americans 12 votes. The proposed delegation only had 10 African American members, which was the equivalent of three and a half votes. The LAA was concerned that the current delegation did not reflect the true demographics of Louisiana, where African Americans make up one-third of the population. The group was also concerned that the lack of African American representation in the delegation could hurt the Democratic Party in the upcoming election. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding a redistricting violation suit brought forward by Johnny Robinson, Stan Alexander, and W.J. Freeman in College Park, in which they accused city officials of stalling on submitting information to the U.S. Justice Department about the city's redistricting plan. The plaintiffs in the voting rights suit said that the city is delaying in order to avoid having to hold another election, which they believed they would lose. The Justice Department objected to the city's redistricting plan because it did not provide adequate racial descriptions of the population. The plaintiffs urged the Justice Department to place a time limit on the city to respond to its mandate. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Leaders Tuesday Discussed Suit Brought By Neighborhood Voters' League," March 15, 1978
Date Created
1978-03-15
Description
Newspaper article regarding a redistricting violation suit brought forward by Johnny Robinson, Stan Alexander, and W.J. Freeman in College Park, in which they accused city officials of stalling on submitting information to the U.S. Justice Department about the city's redistricting plan. The plaintiffs in the voting rights suit said that the city is delaying in order to avoid having to hold another election, which they believed they would lose. The Justice Department objected to the city's redistricting plan because it did not provide adequate racial descriptions of the population. The plaintiffs urged the Justice Department to place a time limit on the city to respond to its mandate. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding a proposed redrawn district plan in College Park, following complaints that the former boundaries disallowed for fair representation of College Park's black residents on the City Council. The plan was met with mixed reactions, with some praising it for creating a majority-black ward and others criticizing it for not going far enough to ensure minority representation. The plan created six wards, with one ward having a majority-black population. The other wards had minority populations ranging from 25% to 35%. The plan also ensured that each ward had a roughly equal population. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Lines Are Finally Drawn On Ward Map", February 22, 1977
Date Created
1977-02-22
Description
Newspaper article regarding a proposed redrawn district plan in College Park, following complaints that the former boundaries disallowed for fair representation of College Park's black residents on the City Council. The plan was met with mixed reactions, with some praising it for creating a majority-black ward and others criticizing it for not going far enough to ensure minority representation. The plan created six wards, with one ward having a majority-black population. The other wards had minority populations ranging from 25% to 35%. The plan also ensured that each ward had a roughly equal population. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
List of Georgia's Black elected officials in 1976, along with their mailing addresses, which was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
List of Georgia Black Elected Officials, 1976
Date Created
1976
Description
List of Georgia's Black elected officials in 1976, along with their mailing addresses, which was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man reads from the Gospel in a church, while Maynard Jackson stands in the background.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Reads From the Gospel, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
A man reads from the Gospel in a church, while Maynard Jackson stands in the background.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man addresses people in a church, while Maynard Jackson sits in the background.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Speaks to People at a Church, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
A man addresses people in a church, while Maynard Jackson sits in the background.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man addresses people in a church, while Maynard Jackson sits in the background.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Speaks to People at a Church, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
A man addresses people in a church, while Maynard Jackson sits in the background.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Maynard Jackson sings along with other people at a church.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Maynard Jackson Sings at a Church, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
Maynard Jackson sings along with other people at a church.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records